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It had been a while that Loki had been stuck at the TVA and his only real means of spending (or as he called it, wasting) time was to talk to and hang out with Casey. The accountant like worker didn't seem to have a lot of friends or even acquaintances in any of his colleges. Frankly, it reminded Loki of himself. Not that he would ever admit that out loud.
Loki absolutely did not feel any sort of emotion towards Casey at all, despite the fact he did enjoy spending time with the person he'd realized had No clue what a fish was. Mobius seemed to have noticed this and questioned the god about it one day at their seemingly scheduled lunch hour.
Loki looked up at Mobius, pausing in eating his apple.
"What was that?"
"I said you seem to have made a friend" The agent repeated, a slight smile on his face.
Loki planned out how he wanted to continue this conversation as he set his apple down and looked the other in the eyes.
"Mobius, a quick reminder, I am a God. A vastly disliked God around here and on earth. I don't do friends, never have and never will" He stated, not a hint of pain in his voice. It was the truth. He had been lonely all his life without a friend. It used to hurt him much more than he ever wished to admit, but by now he had accepted it.
The mustached man held the Asgaurdian's gaze. "You two seem like friends. You hang out with him when I'm working, instead of bothering me as you love to do" He pointed out, much to Loki's bewilderment.
"Well, yes, we do hang out quite often but that does not mean that Casey enjoys my company as much as I enjoy his. I am forced to be in your company most of the time considering anyone here would prune me for breathing the wrong way. I assume he just isn't as hateful as everyone else. At the very least not vocal about it"
Mobius shook his head.
"Casey has never been overly vocal about anything, keeping to himself most of the time. I don't think he dislikes you or he would probably just ignore you"
The two sat in silence, Loki wondering if perhaps he and Casey were friends. A simple 'Oh' was all that he displayed.
Almost as if a sign, Casey came into the room, a chicken salad in his hand. He apparently noticed Loki looking at him though as he smiled and waved happily at him. Without thought, Loki returned the wave and smile.
"Odd…"
"Told ya"
Loki looked at the triumphant looking Mobius and seemed to hesitate with what he wanted to say.
"Mobius… I assume you have had friends before… Umm.. What would a friend do to show that they wish to be friends with the other person..?"
The midgardian looked stumped. "Well, uh, I'm not sure that's usually how it works,but uh.. sometimes people share experiences, or give something to friends, or maybe-"
Loki cut Mobius off, his eyes sparkling. He stood up quickly, very excited "I've got it!" And with that he ran off towards Renslayer's office. Halfway there he slowed and came to a stop.
"Miss Minuets?"
"Hey there Loki! Whatcha doing?"
Loki turned to face the clock, his smile not disappearing. "Does the TVA have any shops?"
She laughed at him "Of course not Loki, why would the TVA need or have a pet shop?"
The God groaned. "Fine…" he went back to thinking then grinned. "Does that perhaps mean nobody here has ever had a pet before?"
"Correct! Why all these questions Loki?"
But Loki was lost in his own plan
"Loki" Miss Minuets repeated
"I just want to get something for a… friend"
Loki's excitement faded away, replaced with content. For the first time in his life. He had a friend.
"So that's all then?" Miss Minutes interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes yes, that's all"
And with that, Miss Minutes disappeared, leaving Loki to plan.
A few days later, Mobius, B-15 and two other agents were called on a mission during the agents and Loki's lunch. As usual, Loki seemed inconvenienced and annoyed yet bored of it all before his attitude changed.
"I'm going with you"
B-15 laughed and pushed Loki right back into his chair. "No, you aren't, Varient. No way I'll let you out of the TVA into the field so you can escape"
Mobius raised an eyebrow. "She's right, why would you want to go anyway? You've never show interest before"
Loki rolled his eyes. "Well if you plan on making me learn all about what you do here and never plan to let me sit on the sidelines to understand better, then why even bother? Maybe I'm interested in my studies"
This time, Mobius chuckled. "Loki, you hate studying those videos and you barely watch them all, you've said it yourself"
Suddenly, B-15 had a change of heart. "You know what? You can come" Mobius looked slightly alarmed at the permission and stared at his partner. "You'll have two of my best minute men by your side at all times and if you even move in the wrong direction, you will be pruned. Do you still want to go?"
Loki bit his lip. That would make it much harder for his plan to be executed correctly. But it was the best chance he got. "Deal. Of course, as long as I get to watch you all work"
Mobius sighed. "Fine. Loki, I can't stop then from pruning you if you go"
The god nodded. "Yeah, well, I don't plan on escaping anyway"
Neither Mobius nor B-15 looked convinced. B-15 turned on her pruning stick and nodded at Loki. "Let's move"
As much as the god loved causing Mischief and chaos and problems, this time, oddly enough, he followed every rule, every command. Mobius found this a bit suspicious considering the man he'd studied his entire career was never one to fall in line. He knew that his.. captive, friend? He knew that Loki was up to something. What that was… He couldn't tell.
Loki followed B-25 through the time door, Mobius behind him, followed by B-15’s extra minute men. They found themselves in a small town, rooftops and sidewalks covered in a soft powdered snow. Loki paused to admire his surroundings, secretly looking for a specific building. He smirked slightly when he did see one. His excitement was short lived when he realized the building he was most interested in was in the opposite direction Mobius was leading him. He went over his vague plan B in his head while he attempted to make conversation with his TVA agent.
“Ah, we have arrived! Where are we exactly? And who are we after? Why isn't there anyone here..? What was the nexus event?” His questions were not answered, instead, earning Loki a glare from Mobius. “Oh come on! Please?”
“Westview, we are looking for an Agetha. A witch.” the white heard man looked towards B-15’s minute men and pointed to Loki. “Watch him” and off he went
Soon the Asgardian was in the presence of the two quite menacing minute men with pruning sticks aimed at him. He had to find a way out so he could complete his plan..
“Soooo… Hi. What are your names? And perhaps pronouns?” Loki, the supposed dangerous god, began innocently.
“Uhh… Ursula.. They/them…” the shorter one answered, loosening their grip on their pruning stick, clearly caught off guard.
“Max. He/him” growled the other one, tightening his stick, to Loki’s dismay.
“Whoa, Max, its a simple conversation. I dont see reason to stab me with your glowstick of death”
Ursula pulled themself together. “What is the purpose of knowing our names, Variant?”
Loki rolled his eyes “Ouch, first of all. I do have a name, darling Ursula. If I may introduce myself more formally with Mr. Stabhappy over here’s permission?”
Max narrowed his eyes but moved his pruning stick back a bit.
The god took this as silent permission and turned to them both before bowing slightly. “Loki of asgard, God of Mischief, rightful king of Jotunheim. I am genderfluid and currently use pronouns he/him, thank you”
Ursula smiled a bit, relaxing their grip on their pruning stick. “Alright, Loki. But that doesn’t answer my question… Why do you wish to know our names and pronouns?”
The prince looked affronted. “Why, Ursula, it is a common courtesy?”
Max was not very interested in Loki’s conversation with his partner. “And now you know our names and pronouns, I expect you to be quiet now”
Loki took a quiet intake of breath, almost in a regretful tone. “Wish I could but I do request a visit to the restrooms… Somewhere in this town.. Please, Ursula, Max.” he looked hopeful and Max seemed to falter.
“We won't fall for your tricks, Loki”
“No tricks, just… a full bladder…”
Ursula hesitated before looking right in the direction of the building Loki wished to go. “Lets go, we’ll stand by the door, don't try to escape or you Will Be Pruned”
“Deal”
Once Loki escaped into the Men’s room, he used his magic. Illusion Manipulation. Creating a seamless duplication of himself. He smiled at his own work, tweaking minor details to ensure his ruse would not be recognized. He had to be sure Ursula and Max both believed he was using the restroom as he said before allowing his duplication to leave the restroom. He stayed put, allowing the Minutemen and his duplication to leave and clear the windows of the showy building. After a few minutes of planning, thinking and musing to himself, he checked to be sure Ursula and Max were indeed gone. Once confident he was alone in the shop and safe to get what he needed, he walked out from the employee bathroom he had been in near the back. Looking back on his very vaguely thought up plan, he realized the odds of the nexus event taking place in a spot that would host a pet shop like he was in now were incredibly slim. Regardless, he was in the position he need to be in to complete his current mission: Get Casey a Fish. A midgardian pet shop was an odd place for the God of Mischief to be, he thought to himself as he went towards the aquarium in the corner. He didn't mind of course. During his conversation with Mobius about friendship, he realized two things. One, he was incredibly bad at being a ‘good friend’. He had never had one before, no one ever staying around that long or even pretending to care about him. He may have been a prince of asgard, but that did not mean he was as widely loved by his people and peers.
Loki made his way to the corner of the shop where a long tank designed to hold many fish stood. He noticed there was a single goldfish in the tank that looked as if it hadn't been cleaned for weeks, three at least. The poor fish did not look too healthy either. The prince wasn't sure the fish had been fed in a while. Poor animal looked minutes away from death. Adopting a pitying expression, Loki sighed as he ventured further in the store for a simple medium sized fish bowl. After piling everything he would need to assemble his secret gift for his first ever friend, he returned to the fish. The water dwelling creature swam towards the glass wall of the tank to watch as he grasped the scooper hanging from the wall. Taking the fish from its original tank and placing it inside the newly filled cleaned smaller bowl he spoke quietly.
Making sure to grab a large container of fish food to ensure Casey would have enough for a while earlier, he opened the container quickly to feed the poor animal in the bowl.
“There you are, eat, you certainly need it”
The Asgardian was not used to using the soft, caring and oddly nurturing tone of voice he had been using as he spoke to the fish. Proud no one could see him at this much more vulnerable moment, Loki turned, setting the bowl down momentarily to create a personalized object for the fish. An asgardian palace. The smile was back as he set the decoration in the rocks. He could already feel a foreign tingly feeling as he thought about how happy he hoped Casey would be. It was odd and yet completely welcome. Was this what it felt like to have a friend? To be a good friend? His smile turned into more of a grin before the realization hit him. Now, Loki had to find a way to get back into Ursula and Max’s custody without getting pruned. Easy peasy..
Loki bit his lip looking at the fish bowl. How would he hide it.. He used his magic to magically carry it without taking the use of his hands. He nodded to himself, finding his way out into the snowy world again. The trickster had absolutely no idea where everyone went, deciding to find out in a particularly dangerous way. He lifted his Illusion Manipulation duplicate. Seconds after, a chaotic commotion began just around the corner.
Carefully, Loki poked his head around the corner spotting Mobius looking stressed.
“Renslayer will have my head-”
“Ah, that much I can promise will not occur” He stepped out from behind the building, his signature mischievous grin on his face. “Miss me?”
An angry B-15 approached him, pruning stick raised and Loki knew he was in trouble. “Wait, pause, wait a second, I can explain what I was doing. Or, show you. Just please… Id rather not be pruned today” the hardcore agent paused, her anger incredably evident.
Quickly, the god magic-ed the fish bowl into his hands, presenting the fish and supplies to the group.
Ursula spoke up “You didn't truly have to go to the bathroom did you!?”
Loki nodded apologetically. “Indeed, that is correct. I am truly sorry, I knew it was the only way to do what I had to”
Mobius stared at Loki and the fish bowl. “Is that a gift? For C-”
“Yes” Mobius was cut off, mainly due to the prince’s stubborn rule to never allow anyone he did not remotely trust that he could care for another being.
The agent chuckled, shaking his head. Hunter B-15 eas not as amused at the situation. “Did you really just put your life on the line for a fish?”
“The fish means something important. But yes. Now, Ive done my thing, I assume you have done yours, shall we get back to the TVA?”
B-15 put her stick away but grabbed hold of Loki’s arm, careful not to make him spill any of the fish’s water. “You and that fish are coming with me when we get back”
"Wha- What'd the fish do?"
----
Within 20 minutes he found himself in a sort of killing-you kind of room he had entered when he was first stolen from the timeline. Except this time, instead of Mobius, he sat across from B-15. With a fish bowl on the table between them. The two of them and Mobius agreed to make sure Casey knew nothing of the fish or the fact Loki was dragged in to be… Well Loki wasn't sure what B-15 wanted him in here to do.
"Alright, so I'm here, you're here and the poor innocent fish is here, what are we here for exactly?"
The powerful dark chocolate skined woman glared at him, confused, for a second before speaking. "You escaped some of my most trusted Minute Men's watch and used this freedom to… get a pet fish for Casey. Why?"
Loki seemed to focus on another part entirely. "He's a very nice fish I found, thank you. An animal which Casey doesn't even know of!"
"But why get him one?"
Loki paused. He didn't feel like spilling his heart and soul out to hunter B-15. "For your information, the fish isn't dangerous. It's just a fish. Casey has never heard of a fish before, I wanted to show him what it was and let him have one"
"Since when are you a thoughtful person?"
Loki was hurt. "Since when have you known all about my personality?" He challenged.
B-15 searched his expression and eyes, apparently deciding what she saw was okay. She moved back, getting out of her chair.
"Alright. Give Casey his fish" She began to leave the room. "And Loki?"
"Hm?" The God of Mischief hummed absentmindedly, summoning a pen and paper to write a note.
"Next time you want something, don't go and near get yourself pruned"
Loki looked up at her and grinned like the mischievous scamp he was. "Yes Ma'am"
----
When Casey got back to his desk after lunch, he noticed a note and a bowl filled with water and stuff in it. Picking up the note, he recognized Loki's hand writing immediately.
'--- Casey
For your information, this is a fish. You may name him and ask me for assistance in taking care of him whenever you wish. I got you food for him too and left it in your "paper weight infinity stones" drawer,
Your friend, Loki'
Casey grinned and looked at the fish, excited to finally see the animal he had been threatened about by his new friend.
"Your name will be Pesce"
The accountant opened his junk drawer and grabbed the fish food, looking up how much to feed the fish before just settling in his chair to admire the beautiful swimming creature, admiring the little plastic tree and mini Asgardian palace. Thinking for a moment, Casey opened the junk drawer again, taking six different infinity stones and placing them lightly into the bowl.
"Perfect. I can't wait to thank Loki"
Casey relaxed, a soft smile on his face, his eyes filled with stares as he gazed upon his new pet.